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SLR:
First
of all, thank you for letting me come and visit you in your home
while I'm in Oxford for the next few weeks. It's good to be back and
talk with you. Want to hear all about what you have been up to.
First things first, for those who don't know you, let's get a little
background. Where did you grow up?
BAF: I grew up in Lake Forest,
Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. I earned my M.F.A in Fayetteville,
Arkansas. That's where I met my husband, Tom.
SLR: When did you first start
writing?
BAF: Oh gosh, when I was a
little girl. For as long as I can remember I loved writing.
SLR: And poetry was always a
love of yours?
BAF: Yes.
SLR: Who has influenced you the
most?
BAF: Probably Ann Sexton and Sylvia Plath.
SLR: Really.
BAF: Oh
yes.
SLR: I though you might say Elizabeth Bishop. Something about your
poetry makes me think of her, though I'm able to say exactly what.
BAF: Gosh, why didn't I say Bishop. Absolutely. She is wonderful and
I'm so flattered that you would say that. Yes, she has been a big
influence too.
SLR: In your book, Great with Child, you put together
the letters you wrote to a pregnant girlfriend. You write about your
own experience becoming a mother. What inspired you to turn these
letters into a book?
BAF: I had written a friend, as you mentioned, and my
editor asked me what I was working on and I told him about these
letters and to my surprise he was interested in publishing them.
I was surprised but in retrospect it makes sense. So many women have
related to that book. The response has been wonderful.
SLR: In Tender Hooks you write about motherhood quite
a bit as well. I'm wondering if the poetry the came from this
experience surprised you or was it something you knew would happen.
BAF: It came as a complete surprise. I had read all of these
books about being a mother and when I had her I realized the books
did nothing to prepare me for the overwhelming feelings I had for
this little human being. So many emotions--I had to write about it!
SLR: Well I just love Tender Hooks. You wrote poetry for so
many women when you wrote that collection. As a mother I must say
thank you!
BAF: I'm so glad you think so. It came so naturally but
it was a surprise.
SLR: So can you tell me what we might expect from you in the
near future?
BAF: Yes, I have a new book of poems called Unmentionables,
coming out in March of 2008.
SLR: Wonderful, we will be looking for that. So who are you reading now?
BAF: Just read Roth's Everyman. Excellent book of
course.
SLR: I just read that too! Depressing, but wow, what a
writer. So good talking with you Beth Ann. Thanks again for your
time. I know you had to put two little ones down for bed before you
could talk and I really appreciate it.
BAF: My pleasure. | 
